Ralph Lauren quietly shuttered its two-year-old 20,000-square-foot store last week. Other brands are expected to close boutiques in a city that has lost its luster for cash-rich mainland Chinese tourists.

AND, ACTION!: Three years after forming his production company, Fade to Black, Tom Ford is finally in the director’s chair. Pre-production is said to be winding down and Ford is expected to start filming his first feature, titled “A Single Man,” in Los Angeles early next month. The film, an adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s novel of the same name, will reportedly star Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Matthew Goode.

GIGLI’S RETURN: It looks like Romeo Gigli will once again put pencil to sketch pad by designing a new line called Io Ipse Idem. According to a Save the Date invite, the designer will officially present his new project on Nov. 20 in Milan with Catherine Vautrin, who quit Emilio Pucci in 2007 after seven years as chairman and chief executive to pursue other interests. Also on hand will be Michele Denegri, an Italian entrepreneur whose operations include fashion, and who is involved in the new undertaking, although further details were not available.

BROADWAY BABIES: Career Transition for Dancers’ 23rd annual gala on Monday brought out boldfaced stars from the Great White Way. The evening, sponsored by Rolex, honored American musicals and Broadway. During the performance at New York City Center, crowd favorite Bebe Neuwirth showed off her recent hip replacement by doing a Bob Fosse routine. And Jane Krakowski took time off from her “30 Rock” gig to steam up the stage as Lola from “Damn Yankees.”

Later when awards were given out, Brooke Shields, who towered over her co-presenter Mikhail Baryshnikov, told the audience how she transitioned from model to actress when she played Rizzo in the Broadway version of “Grease.” She advised dancers who were approaching the end of their career not to worry. “You just continue on to the next challenge. It’s just new choreography,” said Shields.

FERRE, 90210: Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi, basking in critical acclaim for their first collection for Gianfranco Ferré, landed in Beverly Hills on Tuesday to show 30 fresh off the runway looks to a select group of customers at Saks Fifth Avenue. The duo were the picture of European cool, even stepping outside for a cigarette break just minutes before the show began. Backstage, they carefully zipped and laced models into their high-tech creations and towering heels, taking special care to tie the late designer’s signature bows just so. “We get to come to California about twice a year but, with all that is going on in Milan, we feel the pressure to come home and continue working,” said Aquilano, before dispensing the advice, “There are some versatile fabrics and cocktail dresses in this collection that are perfect for the weather in Los Angeles.”

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@rebeccaminkoff is bringing self-checkout to high fashion: The brand has partnered with @queuehop to bring its customers self-checkout options, beginning this holiday season at its SoHo store. (📷: @aurorarosephoto)